Remain vigilant fighting violence against women

On Feb. 14, 1998, Eve Ensler, Tony Award winning playwright, performer, activist, and author of "The Vagina Monologues" established V-Day. Her mission: to demand that violence against women and girls must end.

This year, on the 15th anniversary of V-Day, the Morris County Chapter of the National Organization for Women (MCNOW) is joining women all around the world who are lifting their voices as One Billion Rising. We are rising because one of every three women on the planet will be raped or beaten in her lifetime. That is one billion mothers, daughters, sisters, partners, and friends. Yet most of the world remains silent and indifferent. The time has come to put a stop to the violence and to the silence that surrounds it.

Last fall, MCNOW petitioned Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen to cosponsor the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act, (SaVE Act). This legislation, which amends the Higher Education Act of 1965, would help to end sexual assault and violence on campus by requiring schools to spell out their policies, conduct prevention activities, and ensure necessary assistance for victims. It would constitute a step toward ending the sort of violence which prevents women from attaining their educational dreams. We were very pleased when Congressman Frelinghuysen went on to co-sponsor this bill.

Earlier in 2012, when it was time to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Senate passed comprehensive legislation that not only included the Campus SaVE Act, it protected Native American women, immigrant women and LGBT victims. As Terry O'Neill, President of National NOW stated, VAWA must "serve the most vulnerable populations. Don't say that one victim is more deserving than another. Let's make sure VAWA serves them all."

However, when the House passed their version of VAWA they turned their back on all these victims. In addition, the House bill imposed unnecessary administrative requirements on service providers; dismantled the Office on Violence Against Women; and required notifications to alleged abusers, which could endanger victims. Sadly, Congressman Frelinghuysen voted for this bill, thereby negating his support for the Campus SaVE Act and showing disregard for the safety of all women.

Since the House and Senate could not come together on a bill, VAWA was not reauthorized, making it the first time the bill has not been renewed since 1994.

This is why Morris County NOW will be outside Congressman Frelinghuysen's office at 1:30 p.m. on V-Day, Feb. 14, One Billion Rising, to tell the congressman that we won't stand by while the House tries to strip the newly introduced 2013 Senate version of VAWA. He must not support a bill that only protects some women. All women deserve and need to be protected from violence.

Susan J. Waldman

RANDOLPH

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Remain vigilant fighting violence against women

On Feb. 14, 1998, Eve Ensler, Tony Award winning playwright, performer, activist, and author of 'The Vagina Monologues' established V-Day. Her mission: to demand that violence against women and girls

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